Missing Haledon swimmer's body is found

The body of a 20-year-old Haledon man was recovered from the Atlantic Ocean off Point Pleasant Beach on Friday, five days after he disappeared while trying to save two relatives from drowning, authorities said.

Akhen B. Dyer was last seen just after 7 p.m. Sunday in an inlet off Jenkinson’s Beach, waving his arms and screaming for help, authorities said. His body was recovered by the U.S. Coast Guard around 1:45 p.m. Friday, less than a mile offshore from the inlet, said Lt. Harry Di Corcia of the Point Pleasant Beach police.

Witnesses told police that Dyer entered the ocean to assist two unidentified relatives who appeared to be in danger of drowning. He managed to help one of the relatives ashore, then began to struggle, police said. The second relative returned to shore unassisted.

Someone in a passing boat tried unsuccessfully to pull Dyer to safety before he disappeared in the surf, witnesses told authorities. Lifeguards had gone off duty at 5:30 p.m., posting red flags indicating that swimming was prohibited, Di Corcia said.

Relatives — including Dyer’s father, Al, who was with his son at the time — could not be reached Friday night.